“Tamsyn Murray’s Snug as a Bug really achieves the job it sets out to do – making learning fun”
Images from I Want My Mummy (main), The Scar (left) and Snug as a Bug (above)
Best for… Being apart from mum
I Want My Mummy by Tracey Corderoy Little Tiger Press HB Out now
George might enjoy dressing up as a big scary dragon, but he finds it hard to be brave when his mum goes away for the day. Left behind with his grandmother, George finds it hard to cope at first – as numerous visitors to the house turn out not to be his mum returning – but eventually he finds his (dragon) feet. Charming illustrations by Alison Edgson create a sense of warmth and security to accompany the heartwarming story.
Best for… Dealing with losing a mum
The Scar by Charlotte Moundlic Walker PB Out now
Opening with the line “Mum died this morning”, this exquisitely drawn tale doesn’t pull any punches, but we’ve yet to find a picture book that does a better job of directly addressing the pain of losing a mother. The little boy at the heart of the story is doing his best not to forget his mum in the aftermath of his loss. Olivier Tallec’s illustrations are every inch as compelling as the text – and an intervention from grandma ends the story on a hopeful note.
Snug as a Bug by Tamsyn Murray Simon & Schuster HB/PB Out now
A counting book for toddlers in the ‘make learning fun’ vein, Snug as a Bug really achieves the job it sets out to do. Skilfully illustrated by Judi Abbot, numbers combine crazily with laugh-out-loud rhymes about animals, such as “ten sneezy kittens without any mittens”. At the same time it manages to be a comfort read which is perfect for bedtime, with the story finishing with our hero returning from an outing in the park with mum to his own warm bed.